The unmistakable sign of a connoisseur in 2015?

[sawyer]

A comment in another thread got me thinking about what it is visually (equipment and clothing) that distinguishes the true connoisseur of the road from the also-rans.

This is a chance to let rip to some unashamed bike snobbery at it's finest, so I'd appreciate thoughts as to what we should be looking out for on the road and at the cafe in 2015.

To get you thinking ... carbon rims used to be a calling card, usually meaning the owner was on tubs; but no longer - the rise of the carbon clincher had created utter confusion, at least at fifty paces

Likewise, just a few years ago electronic shifting was the preserve of the few but now it's a currency debased

Notwithstanding the above reservation on carbon rims, tubular tyres still stand alone as being for the pleasingly few, not the many

Non big-brand frames remain a determined nod to the cognoscenti ...

Some of the core WW parts would be up there too ... THM cranks (does anyone actually ever see these??), EE calipers and so forth.

This is meant as fun with any offence caused purely a by-product ... so what do you think it is that marks all us bon vivants out from the crowd?

[Tinea Pedis]

Rockin' a handbuilt alloy wheelset.

[campbellrae]

I would make a slight change to the above, a handbuilt alloy tubular wheelset.

[Antoine]

a power meter

[HillRPete]

I would make a slight change to the above, a handbuilt alloy tubular wheelset.

This, above everything.
Then, steel frame, preferably with hand picked components to match. There is a fine line of course, between the connoisseur who builds his bike by picking matching parts, and the snob, who has everything custom painted to match.

[Jamiemcp]

I would make a slight change to the above, a handbuilt alloy tubular wheelset.

i agree, but thats because thats what I ride, buitl by Derek at wheel smith. Chris king and ambriso of course

[sawyer]

@HillRPete - good point re the fine line, nay overlap between the snob and connoisseur

I suffer from brand matching connoisseurship/snobbery - so for example an unmatched bar and stem absent a good explanation I find frankly objectionable

Alloy tubs is a good one

Should make mention also of low profle tubular rims - it hints at a large investment in wheels, and an even larger investment in time thinking about damn wheels

[IchDien]

No-one rides steel in this country apart from at L'Eroica and sixty year old blokes.

[IchDien]

Personally I'd say a bidon with it's head cut off with a wrapped tubular stuffed inside always distinguishes a rider.

[jeffy]

I would make a slight change to the above, a handbuilt alloy tubular wheelset.

i would disagree, because i ride handbuilt clinchers.

[nathanong87]

classic bars
good stem length , preferably slammed
good sock length
proper fitting kit
anyone rocking 80mm deep wheels on training rides, gets immediately discounted
Big ring bigger than 50t
non-stock garmin mount used

[ultimobici]

Handbuilt shallow clinchers - Check
Handbuilt shallow tubulars - Check
Steel frame - Check
120mm stem - Check
52T outer ring - Check
Non big brand frame - check
Cut-down bottle with tub -Check!

Awesome!

[AGW]

Gum sidewalls

[djm]

No Rapha...

[Tinea Pedis]

No Rapha...

Interesting that the brand has gone full circle and now so popular it's at the same point as the 'passe' brands it initially took aim at when it hit the market.


And a tubular handbuilt wheelset doesn't make you as much a connoisseur as old (or with a lot more upper body strength than I have)